Parental controls on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox
How to set age ratings, playtime limits, spending limits and communication settings on the major game consoles.
- Each console has free parental controls, best managed from a phone app or parent account.
- Set game age ratings, playtime limits, spending limits and who your child can talk to.
- Console controls cover all games on the console, but not the same games on phones or PCs.
Game consoles are less common than phones in Filipino homes, but many families have a Nintendo Switch, PlayStation or Xbox. Each has free, built-in parental controls.
Nintendo Switch
Download the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app on your phone and link it to the console. You can:
- Set a daily play time limit, with an option to suspend the game when time is up
- Restrict games by age rating, or approve specific games
- Restrict communication and posting to social media
- See daily reports of what was played and for how long
For spending, set restrictions on your child's Nintendo Account (a child account in your family group), including blocking eShop purchases or setting a spending limit.
PlayStation (PS4 and PS5)
Set up a family in your PlayStation account, with yourself as the family manager and your child as a child account. From the PlayStation app, website or console settings you can:
- Set age levels for games and videos
- Set playtime limits and allowed hours
- Set a monthly spending limit
- Restrict communication (chat and messages) and user-generated content
- Restrict web browsing
Xbox
Download the Xbox Family Settings app, and add your child to your Microsoft family. You can:
- Set screen time limits and schedules
- Filter content by age rating
- Require Ask to buy for purchases, or set spending limits
- Control multiplayer and who your child can communicate with
- Approve friend requests
These settings also apply to Minecraft. See Minecraft safety.
Handheld gaming PCs and computers
Devices like gaming PCs and handheld PCs run games through stores like Steam or Epic. Each store has its own controls: for example, Steam Family settings and Epic parental controls. Windows also has Microsoft Family Safety.
Understanding age ratings
Games are rated by systems like ESRB (E, E10+, T, M), PEGI (3, 7, 12, 16, 18) and IARC in app stores. Ratings describe content (violence, language, gambling) but not online interactions like chat, which are covered by communication settings.
Tips
- Keep consoles in shared spaces for younger children.
- Use a PIN or password your child doesn't know.
- Review settings when your child gets older or the console updates.
eGuard sets up screen time, bedtime and app rules on your child's phone and checks that each one is really on. Free for one child.